Nutley police arrest burglary suspects

Nutley police arrested seven people in connection to residential burglaries occurring in the township between December of last year and March of this year.

Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo told the Sun that the township experienced a spike in burglaries, with 12 throughout the three-month period.

"Normally, we experience an increase during the holiday season, as most towns do," Strumolo said. "[These crimes] just kind of [occurred] later."

Strumolo initiated proactive enforcement, directed patrols and solicited services from other jurisdictions including the town's forensic analysts, according to a press release.

Several arrests also involved investigatory leads, involving fingerprints and DNA as well as witness statements, he said.

"Most people charged [in Nutley] have committed burglaries in other communities as well," he said. "Working together with [surrounding towns], we pieced together the puzzle."

While seven suspects have been arrested, Strumolo said there are more arrests on the way.

Steven Benedek, 61, of Wayne was arrested on March 21 by Nutley police in cooperation with Rutherford police for burglarizing three Nutley residences, including those on Edison Avenue on Dec. 19, Highfield Lane on Dec. 20, and Kingsland Avenue on Jan. 31. According to police, Benedek was also charged with burglarizing several homes in other towns, such as Rutherford. Police said that Benedek had a record of burglary arrests, dating back to 1972 and 1973.

Giovanni Rivera, 24, of Newark, was arrested and charged with burglary following fingerprints found in a Joerg Avenue residence.

A 16-year-old Nutley juvenile was also arrested for committing area burglaries with her boyfriend, Glen Rojas, 26, of Passaic. Strumolo said that together, they have been charged with as many as 10 burglaries in the area, including a Prospect Street residence on Jan. 14. Rojas was charged with theft from a residence on Jefferson Street in December, according to authorities.

Police have also issued an arrest warrant for Joseph Farina, 36, of Kenilworth for a past burglary to a Hillside Avenue residence. Detectives recovered DNA which matched the suspect.

As previously reported in the Sun, Khalil Gilliam, 19 and Davon Harrington, 23, both of Newark, were charged with burglary to a Daily Street residence on Jan. 22. Authorities said at the time, the two men burglarized the home, after breaking into a Bloomfield residence earlier in the day. A 17-year-old resident had been home sitting on his couch when he observed a suspect walk into his living room after climbing through an open window.

Nutley police charged Gilliam with two counts of burglary. They charged Harrington with two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Authorities are working on the arrest of three suspects in regards to an attempted burglary to a River Road residence. During the incident, an elderly resident attempted to hold the door closed to keep the suspects from entering the residence.

"Detectives are in the process of matching forensic evidence with damage and tools recovered from the scene," Strumolo said in a release. "Charges are imminent."

Strumolo credited his department for their hard work and said that Nutley Mayor Alphonse Petracco approved additional overtime funds to support the investigations.

"Additional patrols were added, special burglary details were formed, detectives followed up on all available leads and all officers were aggressively working to solve these crimes," he said.

A Neighborhood Watch meeting is scheduled for April 24 at town hall. During the meeting, Strumolo said that presentations will be shown on identity theft and common scams going on throughout the community.

"[We're] trying to avoid residents from falling victims to scams," he said.

Following the presentation, an open forum will take place for residents to express concerns or problems.

Nutley police arrest burglary suspects

Nutley police arrested seven people in connection to residential burglaries occurring in the township between December of last year and March of this year.

Nutley Police Chief Thomas Strumolo told the Sun that the township experienced a spike in burglaries, with 12 throughout the three-month period.

"Normally, we experience an increase during the holiday season, as most towns do," Strumolo said. "[These crimes] just kind of [occurred] later."

Strumolo initiated proactive enforcement, directed patrols and solicited services from other jurisdictions including the town's forensic analysts, according to a press release.

Several arrests also involved investigatory leads, involving fingerprints and DNA as well as witness statements, he said.

"Most people charged [in Nutley] have committed burglaries in other communities as well," he said. "Working together with [surrounding towns], we pieced together the puzzle."

While seven suspects have been arrested, Strumolo said there are more arrests on the way.

Steven Benedek, 61, of Wayne was arrested on March 21 by Nutley police in cooperation with Rutherford police for burglarizing three Nutley residences, including those on Edison Avenue on Dec. 19, Highfield Lane on Dec. 20, and Kingsland Avenue on Jan. 31. According to police, Benedek was also charged with burglarizing several homes in other towns, such as Rutherford. Police said that Benedek had a record of burglary arrests, dating back to 1972 and 1973.

Giovanni Rivera, 24, of Newark, was arrested and charged with burglary following fingerprints found in a Joerg Avenue residence.

A 16-year-old Nutley juvenile was also arrested for committing area burglaries with her boyfriend, Glen Rojas, 26, of Passaic. Strumolo said that together, they have been charged with as many as 10 burglaries in the area, including a Prospect Street residence on Jan. 14. Rojas was charged with theft from a residence on Jefferson Street in December, according to authorities.

Police have also issued an arrest warrant for Joseph Farina, 36, of Kenilworth for a past burglary to a Hillside Avenue residence. Detectives recovered DNA which matched the suspect.

As previously reported in the Sun, Khalil Gilliam, 19 and Davon Harrington, 23, both of Newark, were charged with burglary to a Daily Street residence on Jan. 22. Authorities said at the time, the two men burglarized the home, after breaking into a Bloomfield residence earlier in the day. A 17-year-old resident had been home sitting on his couch when he observed a suspect walk into his living room after climbing through an open window.

Nutley police charged Gilliam with two counts of burglary. They charged Harrington with two counts of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Authorities are working on the arrest of three suspects in regards to an attempted burglary to a River Road residence. During the incident, an elderly resident attempted to hold the door closed to keep the suspects from entering the residence.

"Detectives are in the process of matching forensic evidence with damage and tools recovered from the scene," Strumolo said in a release. "Charges are imminent."

Strumolo credited his department for their hard work and said that Nutley Mayor Alphonse Petracco approved additional overtime funds to support the investigations.

"Additional patrols were added, special burglary details were formed, detectives followed up on all available leads and all officers were aggressively working to solve these crimes," he said.

A Neighborhood Watch meeting is scheduled for April 24 at town hall. During the meeting, Strumolo said that presentations will be shown on identity theft and common scams going on throughout the community.

"[We're] trying to avoid residents from falling victims to scams," he said.

Following the presentation, an open forum will take place for residents to express concerns or problems.